Harare, ( New Ziana)- Zimbabwe has intensified its preparedness measures against the Ebola Virus Disease following a surge in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda, amid growing concerns over cross-border transmission in the region.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zhemu Soda said Cabinet had considered and noted a report on Ebola preparedness presented by the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora.
The World Health Organization declared the current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the DRC, which has extended into Uganda, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May 2026.
Soda said as of last Friday, 750 cases had been recorded in the DRC and 2 confirmed imported cases in Uganda, although Uganda’s tally has since risen to 5 confirmed infections, signaling sustained regional transmission and heightened cross-border risk.
He said the vulnerability of Zimbabwe is largely linked to population mobility across regional borders, which increases the need for strengthened disease surveillance, rapid detection systems and effective containment mechanisms.
Zimbabwe already has an Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system in place, backed by weekly epidemiological reporting structures and trained surveillance personnel across the country, he said.
Soda said the existing preparedness frameworks under the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre have positioned the country to respond to disease outbreaks, although the evolving Ebola situation in the region presents a need to further reinforce surveillance systems, real-time alert mechanisms and coordination structures.
Meanwhile Cabinet has since approved the establishment of a provisional Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness Contingency Fund aimed at boosting the country’s readiness capacity.
The fund will support a rapid costed needs assessment focusing on surveillance systems, preparedness at ports of entry, laboratory strengthening, mobilisation of infection prevention and control commodities, as well as deployment of rapid response teams.
The measures are intended to ensure Zimbabwe can quickly detect and contain any possible Ebola cases before they spread within communities.
New Ziana
